08TBILISI756, GEORGIA PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION UPDATE MAY 6

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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 000756
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PRELPGOVPHUMKDEMGG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION UPDATE MAY 6
REF: TBILISI 726
¶1. (SBU) Summary: The environment surrounding Georgia's
parliamentary election campaign degraded during the week.
The Joint Opposition scuffled outside the Central Election
Commission (CEC), while their youth wing did the same near
the CEC Chairman's home. The Joint Opposition called for
rallies on May 7 and May 21. Joint Opposition leaders Kakha
Kukava and David Gamkrelidze said the current tension with
Russia over Abkhazia benefits President Saakashvili's party,
implying it could be intentional. In Dmanisi, the Precinct
Election Commission (PEC) Chairman and a United National
Movement (UNM) coordinator assaulted and wounded two
opposition-appointed PEC members. Separately, Tarkhnishvili
said a CEC representative was assaulted in Isani. The
opposition Industrialists complained of intimidation and
threatened to leave the race. Pol/Econ Chief encouraged CEC
Chairman Tarkhnishvili to maintain maximum transparency in
the election process and ensure a perception of independent
and inclusive CEC leadership. USAID offered additional
training for CEC staff. On May 2, the DCM raised with
Minister of Finance Gilauri reports of financial police
soliciting campaign donations. The National Democratic
Institute (NDI) recent pre-election report assesses
additional action is necessary to restore public confidence
in the elections. Imedi TV resumed transmission of non-news
programming on May 5. End Summary.
Joint Opposition Protests, Calls for More
-----------------------------------------
¶2. (U) On the evening of May 1, the Joint Opposition (the
United National Council of Opposition (UNC) and the New
Rightists) staged a protest in front of the CEC. Levan
Gachechiladze led the protest and called for a rally outside
the CEC on Election Day, May 21. He also called for a rally
before Parliament on May 7, to "Remember November 7." The
protest turned into an ugly scuffle, when Gachechiladze and
his supporters struggled with policemen at the CEC and
actually tried to nail boards across the building's entrance.
Gachechiladze said he would "personally grab Tarkhnishvili
by the necktie and drag him before the people for judgment if
he announces rigged results." Gachechiladze also denounced
CEC Secretary Gizo Mchedlidze (calling him the "Grey
Cardinal") and President Saakashvili, saying that the
opposition would "not tolerate ballot-rigging."
¶3. (U) On May 2, the youth wing of the Joint Opposition
staged a protest at the home of CEC Chairman Levan
Tarkhnishvili. There, they accused Tarkhnishvili of forging
the results of the January presidential election. The
protest involved some physical confrontation with
Tarkhnishvili's neighbors, and several activists were taken
to a hospital for minor injuries. On May 3, the heads of the
CEC's seven departments issued a joint statement condemning
the protest as an intrusion of privacy and unacceptable form
of protest.
¶4. (U) Echoing fellow Joint Opposition leader, Salome
Zourabichvili (reftel), Kakha Kukava and David Gamkrelidze
said on April 30 and May 1 that current tension with Russia
over Abkhazia is benefiting the ruling UNM. They claimed
such incidents are common prior to recent Georgian elections,
and implied this could be intentional. Kukava denounced
Saakashvili's attention on events in Abkhazia as a "typical
pre-election public relations stunt" and said such moves were
to distract the country's attention away from the May 21
election. Kukava alleged the expulsion of four Russian spies
just prior to the 2006 local elections, and the Ganmukhuri
incident in October 2008 (when Saakashvili visited the border
and scolded Russian peacekeepers on TV for arresting Georgian
policemen), served as evidence for his statements.
PEC Members Attacked
--------------------
¶5. (U) In Dmanisi District (Kvemo Kartli) on May 1, two
opposition-appointed Precinct Election Commission (PEC)
members were assaulted and wounded by the PEC Chairman and a
UNM party coordinator. Reportedly, the two UNM
representatives had forcibly demanded that the two commission
members "support" the ruling party's majoritarian candidate.
The two injured persons were taken to the hospital, and the
two UNM supporters reportedly have resigned their positions
in the PEC. The same day, CEC Chairman Tarkhnishvili told
Emboffs that a CEC representative in the Isani District had
been physically assaulted by an acting MP. Tarkhnishvili
said the victim had reported election violations to the CEC.
TBILISI 00000756 002 OF 002
Industrialists Threaten to Drop Out
-----------------------------------
¶6. (SBU) The opposition Industrialists party (formerly allied
with the New Rightists, but now in a separate election bloc)
complained of intimidation by the ruling party. On May 1,
party founder and leader, Gogi
Topadze, said that the party
will pull out of the election race if the "authorities
continue the intimidation of the party's majoritarian MP
candidates." Topadze said he would consult with all his
party's candidates and then make a decision. (Comment:
Public support for the Industrialists of late appears to be
low. Consequently, it is difficult to ascertain if Topadze's
party is truly encountering intimidation, or if it is using
this as a possible pretext to avoid a likely defeat at the
polls. End comment.)
No News, Imedi TV Resumes Broadcasting
--------------------------------------
¶7. (U) Imedi TV resumed trial broadcasts on May 5, but will
not cover any news until after the election on May 21. The
channel furthermore said they will not broadcast any
political news shows until September. No additional public
statements have been made by the company regarding its
ownership since the death of former owner Badri
Patarkatsishvili. Reportedly, the fight for control of the
company between Patarkatsishvili's family and Joseph Kay
continues.
Emboffs to Tarkhnishvili: Transparency is Critical
--------------------------------------------- -----
¶8. (SBU) Pol/Econ Chief met CEC Chairman Tarkhnishvili on May
1 and asked him to maintain maximum transparency in the
election process by posting PEC protocols as they are
completed onto the CEC website. She also encouraged
Tarkhnishvili to ensure a perception of independent and
inclusive leadership in the CEC. Further, she noted the
importance of equal and appropriate access to the CEC for all
parties. USAID offered additional training assistance for
the CEC staff, in order to further bolster public confidence
in the election administration. Such training would likely
include components on complaints procedures, E-Day processes,
and ethics. Tarkhnishvili welcomed the offer. The Chairman
assured Emboffs that nearly 2,000 PECs will be equipped with
faxes for the election, and that these faxes will be used to
send PEC protocols directly to the CEC, where they will be
immediately posted on the CEC's website. The CEC continues
to work with USAID implementing partner IFES on the
tabulation and reporting plan. IFES is providing training,
and material and technical assistance, to the CEC.
DCM Speaks with MOF Gilauri
---------------------------
¶9. (SBU) On May 2, the DCM raised with Minister of Finance
Nika Gilauri reports of financial police and tax inspectors
improperly soliciting campaign donations for the UNM from
medium to large businesses. Watchdog NGOs had claimed
reports of threatening companies with audits and possible
legal issues. Gilauri said he had also heard of such
concerns. He said he had already put the word out against
any such practices, but he needs specific information to act
further. To date, the companies have been unwilling to
divulge their identities, or to approach the MOF together to
address the matter. Post will raise the issue with the
government's Inter-Agency Task Force as well. (Comment:
Notably, the NGO agrees that such reports are still fewer
than during the January election. End comment.)
NDI Releases Pre-Election Assessment
------------------------------------
¶10. (U) Also on May 2, the National Democratic Institute
(NDI) released findings of their pre-election assessment team
(emailed to EUR/CARC). The delegation acknowledged positive
steps made by the government since January. However, they
noted concern about the low level of trust between political
parties and in the election administration. The report
points out that the government bears responsibility for a
viable, trustworthy election capacity. Still, all parties --
including the opposition -- bear responsibility for their
actions and discourse during the campaign period. The report
presents 18 recommendations that generally focus on the
responsibilities of political parties, the election
administration, and the media environment.
TEFFT

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